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Just a simple question to get everyone talking - who's your favourite Australian author, and why?

I'd have to say the rather obscure Caroline Macdonald would be my favourite. She's a young adult fiction writer, and while I haven't read her works in years I still remember them from many years ago. (Although the internet is giving me the sinking feeling that she's actually a Kiwi).

Other remembered favourites would be Elyne Mitchell, Sara Douglass and Peter Jennings.

To be honest I have only read one book by an Australian author and that was 'Cloudstreet' by Tim Winton. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely be reading more of his in the future. I would love to hear some suggestions on other aussie authors that I should read.

There are some great Australian authors that you have missed Angie!

Tim Winton
Gail Jones
Robert Drewe
Richard Flannigan

All four are especially wonderful.

I will definitely be reading more Tim Winton books as I really enjoyed Cloudstreet, but I will have to keep my eyes open for the other authors you have listed down. Thanks :)

I especially like Gail Jones..she is really wonderful.

I really liked Cloudstreet, though it was often a little depressing.

One of my favourite books is still Eucalyptus by Murray Bail. I recommend it to any Australian - I've found that non-australians don't get it, mostly cause they have this weird idea that the country is all desert, so how could we have trees too? :)

I also loved the Silver Brumby books as a teenager (I forget the author), John Marsden's Tomorrow Series is still a favourite and my #1 favourite author is Isobelle Carmody.

I loved Richard Flannagan's latest, The Unknown Terrorist, I recommend that one.

I have a book by Gail Jones but I still haven't read it. I've actually never heard of her before.

I still haven't read any Bryce Courtenay! And The Thornbirds is on my list, waiting...

Colleen McCullough
Bryce Courtnay
Posie Graeme-Evans
Joy Chambers
Annie Gracie
Anna Jacobs
Janet Woods
There's heaps more!

I'm planning on reading The Thorn Birds next, and I've been meaning to read some Courtenay for ages. I don't even recognise the others - how sad is that? :) Any titles that might jog my memory?

I'm pretty sure the only aussie I have read is david malouf's "Remembering Babylon". I enjoyed it and I do hope to read some more of his work sooner than later. I do like aussie poets as well.

I have recently finished reading Di Morrissey's book The Valley and i really enjoyed that. Joy Dettman is also a good Aussie author i have enjoyed reading. Has anyone read Ruth Park books, she was born in New Zealand but has lived here for a long time and she writes interesting characture type books.I love reading Australian authors. I am reading Fire fire by Eva Sallis at present, and will be looking for some of the books suggested by others in this group
Thanks!!

I know this sounds corny...but can someone please explain to stupid me how i am to open the book from this site to actually read it, please? Or am I suppose to buy the book. I am new to this and I am no computer whiz either. I am desperately wanting to read the books I have choosen, and I don't seem to se the HELP button, or is it Bebo?
anyway have a merry chrissy and a safe and happy new year celebration.

Hello :)When it comes to aussie authors I love Sara Douglass. I think she is brilliant! She is a fantasy writer however. I think Australia has some brilliant Aussie fantasy writers such as Cecelia Dart-Thornton, Isobelle Carmody and Kate Forsyth. However I can't pass John Marsden. The Tomorrow series is fantastic! I attended on of his writing camps on the Tye Estate and he was amazing!

John Marsden, Paul Jennings, Marianne Curley, for YA fiction. Anne Whitfield for Historic Romance. Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby series, May Gibbs with Snuggle pot and Cuddlepie and The Magic Pudding were all favourites when I was young. Sara Douglass, amazing Fantasy author and a great inspiration. I write Fantasy and I would only hope to be found in her shadow.

I have heard of John Marsden's workshops. How lucky were you Jeanie, to participate in one!!
His books line my bookshelves, they have all been read and re read. My children loved them as they grew up and still enjoy dipping into them today.

Hi
This has nothing to do with Australian authors...but I'm not sure where I post general stuff. I've just joined this group today and noticed you guys are reading Bill Bryson. Is there a day or evening you get together and discuss it. If so, can you tell me when this is? Or is it just a general discussion about the book anytime you feel like doing a post?
Thanks, Michelle

Collen McCullough, Bryce Courtney and Peter Carey are my favourite Australian authors of fiction. I agree that John Marsden writes some pretty impressive young adult books - but it's been a while between reads. Some people have mentioned David Malouf, but does anyone else find his endless description deathly boring? (is it just me?). If you include playwrights as authors, I think David Williamson's plays are amazing.

I love Juliet Marillier, Sara Douglass for their work in fantasy and Maureen McCarthy and Brigid Lowry for ya fiction. Aside from that I really lack any favourites Aussie writers.

He might count as NZ, but Derek Hansen as favourite, for Sole Survivor and "Lunch with" series.

Didn't like his Blockade or Fishy.

The Lunch series are told stories. I usually read them sitting outside at a restaurant, enjoying the conversatin.

Except for Piano, I don't know Gail Jones. What's a good starting place?

Colleen McCulloch is probably my favourite Aussie fiction writer. I like some of Bryce Courtenay's stuff but not everything. Of late he seems to deliver books by weight.

Jennifer Rowe writes top notch mysteries (well she used to anyway, I think she's switched to children's books of late). Michael Rowbotham and Gabrielle Lord both also write good thriller/mysteries.

Matthew Reilly does a good job at adventure stories - ripping yarns most of them although I haven't enjoyed the last couple as much as his earlier ones.

Oh I forgot Geraldine Brooks - I'm reading Year of Wonders right now (finding it quite fabulous) and recently finished People of the Book which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's historical fiction with great research.

I adore Jackie French and Elizabeth Honey. They made my childhood a happy one.

my favourite australia authors are definitely John Marsden and Traci Harding.

I was very impressed by Peter Carey's True History of the Kelly Gang, and just recently Tim Winton's Dirt Music. Dirt Music especially painted a wonderful picture in a seemingly effortless prose

John Marsden, for his The Tomorrow Series.

Favourite Australian author? Me? Or is that an outrageous self-promotion? I'd better say Tim Winton for 'Cloudstreet' - good stuff.

I would never pick up a book soley because it was 'Australian', or had an Australian author. I'm thinking about the ideal profile for an author to be talked about by our literati. I shan't write them down because they sound so catty - LOL! I read books because I expect them to be good, no matter what passport they were written under.

We are lucky enough to have an international language and that means that our writers do not have a captive home market. Even our online bookshops seem to to be no more than a front for the big boys in America. I recently bought a book from an Australian online site even though it was a touch more expensive than buying the same thing from the States. It arrived still in its American packaging and took a month to reach me...

My biggest market is by far the US, and Australian publishers (and agents) struck me as being impenetrable. Oh well!

Fav AU author is Matthew Reilly, Seven Wonders of the World and Six Sacred Stones are fantastic and I esp. cannot wait until his next book is released :-) I also loved AB Facey - A Fortunate Life is brilliant. Monica MacInerney is a delight and I loved Cosmonaut by Peter Mcallister.

Lian Hearn for Tales of the Otori (pseudonym for Gillian Rubenstein.) I adore these books. It's set in feudal Japan and about young Takeo who lives in a small town that hardly anyone knows. But it's attacked by Iida Sadamu and Takeo loses his family and is almost killed himself. He is saved and adopted by the Otori leader, Lord Shigeru, who somehow seemed to be at the right place at the right time. The characters are so genuine, and heart-warming, and then you've got the truly brutal and unlikeable ones. But it's not as simple as that... there's so much depth and Lian Hearn weaves the story so wonderfully.

Sonya Hartnett, who is another talented writer. The Ghost's Child.

Then there's Isobelle Carmody who writes wonderful fantasy series', namely Obernewtyn and The Legendsong Saga. She has various other reads and if you like fantasy at all, she is a must.

I've read a few books by Bryce Courtenay, Jessica being my favorite. Absolutely wonderful author.

In my childhood, I enjoyed Emily Rodda, John Marsden and Paul Jennings.

So many good authors. And it can only improve.

Little tidbit I learned today - Markus Zusak, "The Book Thief", is Australian! I was very pleased to find that out. :)

my fave aussie authors are:

Alison Croggon
Isobelle Carmody
Kate Forsyth
Traci Harding
Trudi Canavan

yep, all women & all wrote fantasy ;p

Being a huge crime fiction fan I thought I'd list some of my favourite local authors:

Leah Giarratano
Lindy Cameron
Phillip Gwynne
Peter Temple
Geoff McGeachin
Chris Womersley
Michael Robotham
Shane Maloney
Adrian Hyland
Katherine Howell
Leigh Redhead

I could go on :) :)

Sarah Douglass and Jack Dann are also very popular around here with the science fiction / fantasy reader in the house.

If I was to choose one I would have to say Patrick White. ... I also like Elizabeth Jolly and Helen Garner, amongst others!

Elizabeth Jolley is my favourite - virtually without question. The early plays of Williamson come very close, but then the scales must be tilted the other way by everything he has written since Travelling North.

My favourites are:

Tim Winton
Helen Garner
Peter Temple
Robert Drewe

Can JM Coetzee be included here ?!

I really like kathryn Fox
she writes the same type of book as Kathy Riches.

I really like Tim Winton, Murray Bail, Helen Garner, Robert Drewe, JM Coetzee (let's include him), Brian Matthews, Isobelle Carmody (must declare my family connection here!), David Malouf - oh so many authors to catch up with, so little time. Thanks everyone for reminding me of books I love.

Jennifer Fallon!

Tim Winton - everything.
Helen Garner's fiction
Richard Flanagan
Gabrielle Lord
Markus Zusak
Some of Peter Carey
Murray Bail, Eucalyptus

Tim Winton is a star. However, I've just read The Sinkings by Amanda Curtin (UWA Press). I highly recommend it. She's one to watch. There must be something in the water in Western Australia.

Sara Douglass - I can't put her books down once started but sometimes I get cranky with how she winds up her epics. I have thrown her paperbacks across the room more than once. However every time a new title hits the shelf all is forgiven :)

Mine so far is Kim Wilkins. She has an amazing way of writing that makes your spine tingle. I also like Jane Routely - but I could be biased as she is a friend of my husband and lives across the road from us.

I Love Love Love Geraldine Brooks followed by Andrew Mcghan - Its a sign of a great author when each book they write is totally different.

Amongst kids fiction, I love Morris Gleitzman. 'Once' is as good as 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas'.

all of the above (and am v pleased to have discovered some I wasn't necessarily aware of) ...

but if i had to choose just one - Kim Wilkins

Hi all,

I'm new to this group, but have to jump in and say that I just love David Malouf's writing. Johnno is the book which introduced me to his beautiful style, but his stand-out is "The Great World". The book takes you from country NSW prior to WWII, to the fall of Singapore, the Burma railroad, and back to NSW, to modern-day Sydney. The writing is such at that times you just hold your breath so as not to break the spell. Wonderful stuff.

Have to agree also that Geraldine Brooks' work is fantastic, particularly "People of the Book", and I am also rather a Peter Carey fan, and am currently reading "Maggs" by PC.

Must admit to being one of those totally "unAustrayan" people who really don't like Tim Winton's writing at all.

I don't think anyone's mentioned Nick Earls yet. He's done some good teen/YA stuff.

And Matthew Reilly is definitely worth a read.

haha, i'm one of the few who doesn't like tim winton. markus zusak and john marsden are amazing. geraldine brooks is pretty good too.

Reagan wrote: "haha, i'm one of the few who doesn't like tim winton. markus zusak and john marsden are amazing. geraldine brooks is pretty good too."


I'm with you there, Reagan. Markus Zusak is indeed fantastic, although Malouf is still my favourite, and John Marsden's Tomorrow series was just captivating for this old chook. Geraldine Brooks' books are both superb reading and so educational, so she is way up there also.

I've just been reading a newspaper interview with Malouf and see he has a new book out so that's going to the top of my must have list.

I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes.

Two of my favourite novels are by Australian authors - Of A Boy by Sonya Hartnett and Murray Bail's Eucalyptus A Novel. I'm also a fan of JM Coetzee (the consensus seems to be that we're claiming him), Andrew McGahan and, when I was younger, Jackie French.

Some favourite Australian authors: Tim Winton, Helen Garner, Lily Brett, Thomas Keneally, Monica McInnerney, Kate Grenville, Clive James and Olga Masters. Hesba Brinsmead's "Pastures of the Blue Crane", which I first in Grade 7, remains memorable for tackling issues happening around me at the time - "irresponsible property development ruining our coastline, and the casual racism, sexism and narrow-minded conformity of Australian society." Other favourite Australian titles include: "Journey to the Stone Country" by Alex Miller "The Waterlily: A Blue Mountains Journal" by Kate Llewellyn, "Come in Spinner" by Dymphna Cusack and Ruth Park's two novels set in Surry Hills, "The Harp in the South" and "Poor Man's Orange". OK, she was born in New Zealand. She did spend most of her life in Australia.

Debbie wrote: "I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes."

nikki gemmell is great. i loved the bride stripped bare

Debbie wrote: "I love Tim Winton, and I would also say Nikki Gemmell. Shiver and Cleave are two of my favourite books. I adore the way she writes."

Yes I'm a fan of Nikki Gemmell too - I loved Shiver and Bride Stripped Bare.